More British troops sent to Iraq for final assault on Isil
BRITISH troop numbers in Iraq are being bolstered as the campaign to wipe out the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant in the area enters its final push, the Defence Secretary has announced.
A total of 44 Royal Engineers are being sent to Al Asad airbase in Anbar province, western Iraq, Sir Michael Fallon said. It takes the number of British personnel at the camp to more than 300 and the total in Iraq to about 600.
Isil has been on the verge of collapse in Iraq. Mosul was retaken by Iraqi forces last month and in recent days Isil has been losing its grip on Tal Afar, a stronghold in the north-west.
The additional troops, from 5 Armoured Engineer Squadron, 22 Engineer Regiment, in Tidworth, Wiltshire, are being deployed in Iraq for six months to build infrastructure, including accommodation and offices in the coalition forces camp.
Meanwhile, RAF aircraft based in Akrotiri, Cyprus, have carried out about 1,400 strikes against Isil, also known as Daesh, as part of the international effort to destroy the terror group.
Sir Michael said: “We are stepping up our contribution to the fight against Daesh and fulfilling Britain’s role as a key player in the global coalition.
“Daesh is being defeated. Iraqi forces, backed by coalition air strikes, have now liberated 70 per cent of the territory Daesh held and the victims of its barbarism are being helped by our humanitarian support.
“These extra troops will help support operations to bring the defeat of Daesh a step closer.”
About 120,000 members of the British Armed Forces and civilians served in Iraq following the Us-led invasion in 2003, but the UK’S combat role ended in April 2009.
During the operation, 179 UK troops were killed.
The sprawling Al Asad airbase houses a coalition of Iraqi, US, Danish and British troops.
The base, which is about 100 miles west of Baghdad, has been used by the British to train and mentor Iraqi forces taking on Isil jihadists.
As well as the mentoring roles, British soldiers are also involved in providing security at the international base.